The American Civil War of 1861-65 was in many ways the first modern world war giving us large scale naval blockades, trench warfare and a political peace that settled nothing. It was as different from the Revolution, War of 1812 and European Napoleonic wars as night from day especially in terms of tactics. The Mexican army in the war of 1846-48 was the testing ground of the leadership and tactics that would see the United States triumphant over European tactics and find the US with the largest standing army in the world in 1865.

The Battle of Palo Alto marked several firsts in American history: a new generation of professional soldiers–Ulysses S. Grant, George G. Meade, and James Longstreet–provided a wealth of expert knowledge to their senior officers; the military demonstrated the superior qualities of their newly introduced “flying” artillery, one that would see fruition during the far greater epoch of the Civil War; and graduates of the U.S. Military Academy experienced their first major test.

The battle was essentially an artillery duel that pitted highly effective U.S. cannon against Mexican cannon of antiquated design. The Americans rapidly deployed at will two field batteries, each consisting of six- and twelve-pounder guns and howitzers. Two eighteen-pounder siege guns, periodically hauled forward by teams of oxen, contributed to the decimation of the Mexican infantry. In contrast, Mexican four- and eight-pounder guns lacked the maneuverability and range needed to check their aggressive adversary.

Although the Mexicans attempted flanking and frontal attacks on the U.S. lines, they were repulsed with heavy losses. Unable to maneuver, and confused and bloodied after standing all day under artillery fire, the Mexicans withdrew.

In On the Prairie of Palo Alto, Charles M. Haecker and Jeffrey G. Mauck use an interdisciplinary approach, combining research of a historian with that of a historical archaeologist, to present an accurate version of how the battle developed and concluded.

By reviewing historical accounts of the battle, comparing and contrasting both Mexican and U.S. documents pertaining to the battle, analyzing contemporary battlefield maps, and examining relevant areas of the battlefield site itself, the authors have determined that several significant differences between the American and Mexican versions of battle events and that the American version more closely approximates the truth.